Electric water heater



May 7, 1935. s. CONTE Y ELECTRIC WATER HEATER Filed March 22, 1935 2 lsheets-sneu 1 May 7, 1935. s. CONTE 2,000,478

ELECTRIC WATER HEATER Filed March 224, 1935 2 sheets-sheet 2 /82 Ii /eg Y, El LH.

Patented May 7, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC WATER HEATER Sebastiano Conte, Princeton, N. J.

Application Much zz, 1933, sei-iai No. 662,161

4 claims. (cl. 21e- 38) This invention relates to certain new and useinl improvements in electric water heaters of the type particularly adapted for domestic purposes. f

'I'he primary object of this invention is to provide a novel form of electric heating element which may be used for heating the supply water to a furnace or may be used for heating the water in a stand boiler.y

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel control means for controlling the temperature oi' the water by cutting in or out the electric heating element as desired.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an electric heating element which may be used with an ordinary furnace employing hot water in lieu of the coal or other fuel such as oil and gas. f

' A still further object of thisinvention is. to provide an electric heating element arranged in a novel manner relative to water heating coils or tanks to insure the most eicient use of the heat that is generated by the electric heating element.

A still further object of this invention is to provlde'a water heater which may be formed from a series of receptacles or water coils between which is positioned electric heating units so that thev water may bequickly heated with a minimum consumption of current.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description, forming a part oi this specification and in which,

Figure l is a front elevational view of an electric water heater embodying this invention, showing the same arranged relative to a hot water heating plant furnace;j

Figure 2 is a top elevational view of the heating element illustrating the water coil surrounding the same and showing the arcuate shape of the heater to allow for the same being placed in close contact with the furnace;

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the electric water heater showing portions thereof broken away to illustrate details of construction;

Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken through the Water heater embodying this invention and further illustrating the details of construction;

Figure 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the automatic circuit controlling switch interposed in the feed water line to the furnace;

Figure 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 oi.' Figure 5 looking in the ywill generally be employed to designate an elecdirection of the arrows illustrating further details of construction of the circuit controlling means employed in the system;

' Figure 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on line 1-1 of Figure 5, looking in the 5 direction of the arrows illustrating the contact members of the circuit controlling means;

Figure 8 is an enlarged view of the switch arm and operating means showing a portion thereof in section to illustrate the details of construction; v

Figure 9 is a front elevational view of an electric water heater embodying the invention as shown in Figures 1 to 8 inclusive as applied to a domestic stand boiler; f

Figure 10 is a front elevational view of a modified form of electric water heater or stand boiler Villustrating the electric heating element or unit interposed between suitable water tanks with circling water coils; '2O

Figure 11 isa front elevational view partly in section of a modified form of water heater or stand boiler;

Figure l2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line I2-I2 of Figure 1l looking in the direc- 2 tion of the arrows illustrating the electric heat- `ing element yor unit interposed between the sections of the stand boiler;

Figure 13 is a. transverse cross-sectional view taken on line I3-I3 looking in the direction vof 30 the arrows of Figure 11, further illustrating the arrangement of the electric heating element or tric water heater which may be interchangeably connected with a furnace hot water rsupply pipe as shown in Figure 1 or may be attached to a domestic stand boiler as shown in Figure 9 also y for the purpose of heating the hot water supply of a house or building.

The electric water heater 5 comprises a base portion 6 which may be formed hollow and to Whichimay be secured complementary arcuately ,55

curved plates 1 formed of metal or other heat conducting material. Interposed between the arcuately curved metal plates 1 is an electric heating element comprising a Zig-zag resi-stance wire 8 suitably insulated from the metallic plates 1 by means of a composition insulation and re proof substance such as asbestos, 9.

The arcuately curved complementary plates 1 are fastened by screws I D so that the electric heating element 8 will be securely fastened therebetween. Suitable electrodes II are provided on the electric heating element for connecting the same in a suitable source of current supply. Encircling the metallic complementary plates 1 is a hot water pipe or coil I2 having its lower end connected to the chamber 6 as at I3 and being coiled around the plates 1 from the bottom portion thereof to nearly the top thereof where the pipe coils terminate in a union I4. An insulation casing I2a incloses the water coil I2 as shown in Figure 4. It will be evident that heat created by the electric heating unit 8 will be transmitted through the matallic plates 1 to heat the water contained in the water coil I2 and thereby furnishing a running hot water supply to the house or building.

As shown in Figure 1, the electric water heater 5 is applied to a furnace I5 of the usual hot water type having the conventional return pipe I6 and supply pipes I1 for connection to the radiators in the house or building. Usually in connection with furnaces of this type it is common practice to provide a coil in the firebox for furnishing running hot water to the faucets of the house and it is the intention of this invention to eliminate the use of such a coil in the fire box so that hot water may be had at all times during the different seasons of the year regardless of whether fire is kept in the furnace or not.

The furnace is provided with a cold water supply pipe I8 in the bottom portion of the boiler which may have one end connected to the street water supply for furnishing the system with water as it is used from the system. Also secured to the lower portion of the boiler is a pipe connection I9 having the usual spigot connected to the pipe connection I9 by a T-joint 20. A pipe 2I connects the T-joint 20 to the lower chamber E of the water heater as at 22 for the purpose of feeding water to the chamber 6 and through the water coil I2. The water passes upwardly through the union I4 and is then conducted to the hot water running supply of the house or building by means of a pipe 23 in communication with the pipe I1. A temperature control apparatus for the water includes a pipe 24 in communication with the pipe 2I and has a drain valve 25 and a stop cock 26 set therein. The pipe 23 is connected to one or both of the hot water supply pipes I1.

The control mechanism is illustrated in detail in Figures 5 to 8 and includes a condenser 21 set into the pipe 24 and has a downwardly extending anged pipe 28 to which is connected a control chamber 29 by means of a pipe 3i).I having a screw threaded connection 3| with the chamber 29 and being fastened to the flanged pipe 28. The lower portion 0f the chamber 29 is open as at 33 and on one side thereof adjacent the opening there is formed a hollow boss. Passing around the control chamber 29 is a metallic band 36 having laterally extending portions 31 whereby the free ends thereof may be connected in the usual manner to a switch housing 3B as at 39. The metallic bands 36 may be fastened by means of screws or rivets 40 to securely clamp the switch casing 3B in position relative to the control chamber 29.

An arm 4I is pivotally mounted as at 42 on a contact plate 43 within the housing IB and has a bifurcated end which is looped as at 44. The pivoted lever 4I passes between the bifurcated looped portion 44 of the plate 43 so that a pintle or shaft may extend through the loops- 44 and an intermediate looped portion 45 of the lever 4I. The hinge plate 43 may be secured to the casing 38 by means of screws or rivets 45. An opening is formed in one side wall of the casing 38 so that the pivoted lever 4I may extend therethrough and may also extend through the opening 35 formed in the hollow boss 34. The pivoted lever 4I shown in detail in Figure 8 is formed in sections including oppositely screw threaded portions 41 connected by a correspondingly screw threaded sleeve 4B so that turning of the sleeve may elongate or decrease the length of the pivoted lever.

On one end of the pivoted lever 4I is formed a circular flat portion 49 which is adapted to extend into the control chamber 29 so that water of condensation dropping from the condenser 21 will pass through the tube 30 and fall upon the circular flat portion 49 thereby tending to pivot the lever 4I about its pivot point 42. On the end of the pivoted lever 4I there is provided a contact 50 normally held in engagement with a stationary contact 5I which includes an angle plate 52 secured to the side wall of the switch housing 38. Also formed on this end of the lever 4I is a flat portion 54 adapted to be engaged by a coil spring 55, the opposite end of which abuts against the top wall of the switch housing 58 to normally engage the contacts 53 and 5I.

The manner in which the circuit means is associated with the electric water heater is as follows: A suitable house current power line supply is in communication with the switchA 6I in the usual manner, a conductor 5I while a conductor 83 from the contact plate 43 leads to the terminals II of the heating unit 8. When-the switch 6I is turned on the current will flow through the electric heating unit by reason of the fact that the contacts 50 and 5I are closed by means of the coil spring 55. As soon as the water passing through the water coil` I2 has reached a predetermined temperature, the condenser 21 will create water of condensation which will drop through the tube 3U and will impinge upon the circular fiat portion 49 of the pivoted lever 4I thereby tending to tilt the same upon its pivot point 42 to break the circuit through the electric heating unit by the separating of the contacts 50 and 5I.

In Figure 9 the same invention is shown as applied to a domestic stand boiler I5a having a water feed supply pipe I8a and the hot water outlet supply pipe I9a. The electric water heat-- er 5 is of the same construction as shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive and the lower chamber 9 thereof is connected to the lower` portion of the stand boiler I5a by means of a pipe connection 2Ia While the free upper end of the water coil I2 is connected to the upper portion of the stand boiler by means of a connection 23a. Electric current passing through the heating unit will heat the water within the stand boiler I5a so that the same may be fed to the faucet in the house or building through the hot running water pipe I9a. Interposed in the hot water running pipe I9a is a condenser 21a, check valve 26a and drain cock 25a. Extending downwardly from the condenser 21a is a pipe 28a having a flanged portion for connection to a. control chamber 29a by means of a similarly flanged pipe 30a. The control chamber 29a is of the same construction as shown in Figures 1, 5, 6, 7 and 8 and is provided with a hollow boss 34a for the passage of the pivoted lever Ma pivoted inside of the switch housing 38a supported from the control chamber 39a by means of suitable bands or brackets 36a.

A source of energy leads to the switch 61a and the conductor 82a from the switch Sla leads to a terminal contact in the switch housing 38a. The conductor 69a leads from the other terminal contact in the switch housing to the terminals Il of the heating unit 8.

The operation of the electric water heater as shown in Figure 9 is substantially identical with the form shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4.

In Figures 9 and 13 is shown a modified form of the invention in which the stand boiler may be formed in sections 10, 1l, 12, 13, 14 and 15 and each section includes a container having the general resemblance of a drum circular in horizontal cross-section. Interposed between the sections 10 and 1I is an electric heating unit which includes a sheet disk of insulation 16 on opposite sides of which are resistance wires 11 having terminals 18 as shown in Figure 13, the vertical tie rods 80 extend through the sections 10 to 15 for securely clamping the sections together. Each of the units is separated and the sections thus formed are all connected by means of water pipes 8| so that water communication may be established between the several sections 10 to 15 inclusive. The valve controlled water service feed pipe 8a communicates with the lower section 15 by means oi a pipe 83 for charging the system with water and has a drain faucet 81 for draining the system. The heated water in the sections 10 to 15 passes upwardly as it is heated by the electric heating elements 11 and passes outwardly of the upper section 'l0 by way of the pipe 88 to the heater elements, the return of the water being by way of the pipe 89 communicating with the pipe B3 at the lower section 15. In the form of the invention illustrated in Figure l0 there is provided a plurality of connected water tanks or sections as shown in Figure ll having heating elements 16-11 interposed between the sections. A continuous pipe coil formed of coiled sections 90 surrounds the water tank, the lower coil 90a of the lower coiled section 90 being in communication with a water service pipe 9| that has a drain valve 92. The upper end 90b oi the upper coil section 90 communicates with a pipe 93 leading to the heater element such as radiators or the like while a return pipe 94 from the radiators communicates with the lower section 90a of the lower coil 90. A water temperature regulating device 95 similar to the form illustrated in Figures 1 to 8 is associated with the water service pipe 9| and is diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 14. A source of energy is in communication with the main switch 96 having a conductor 91 leading to the regulator 95 while the conduit 98 from the regulator 95 communicates with a three arm switch 99 respectively having independent line wire connections |00 with resistance elements 11a, 11b and Tlc. By the provision of the three arm switch 99 either one or any combination of the resistance elements 11a, 11b and 11c may be cut in for heating purposes.

A single switch device is illustrated in Figure l5 comprising the main switch 98e, the temperature regulator 95a and the single resistance element 11d.

From the above detailed description of the invention, it is believed that the construction and operation thereof will at once be apparent and while there are herein shown and described the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is neverthelessto be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:-

1. An electric water heating system comprising an electric heating unit placed in close relation to the water carrier and including a normally closed switch element, and an operating lever forthe switch element including a disk plate upon which water of condensation is adapted to fall for pivotally moving the lever l and opening the switch and said lever being automatically returnable to switch closing position in the absence of flow of water of condensation. v

2. An electric water heating system comprising a water coil, an electric heating unit placed in close relation to the water coil and including a normally closed switch element, and an operating lever for the switch element including a disk plate upon which water of condensation is adapted to fall for pivotally moving the lever and opening the switch and said lever being automatically returnable to switch closing position in the absence of flow of water of condensation.

3. An electric water heating system comprising a water boiler, a water coil connected to the boiler, an electric heating element associated with the water coil and including a normally closed circuit with a switch element therein, said switch element including an operating lever for the switch, a spring engaged with the lever for moving the same into operative position for closing the switch and a ilat plate carried by one end of the lever upon which water of condensation falls for operation of the lever and opening of the switch, the lever returning the switch to its closed position under iniluence of the spring in the absence of ilow of water of condensation.

4. In an electric water heating system, a water carrier, an electric heating unit in close relation thereto, a control switch for the heating unit, and means for maintaining the water at a substantially constant temperature including a member for the operation of the switch adapted to be acted upon by the flow of water of condensation in contact therewith for opening the switch and closing the switch in the absence of flow of water of condensation.

SEBASTIANO CONTE. 

